Tuesday, 27 August 2024 14:25

$10 cucumbers?

Written by The Hound

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OPINION: The Hound hears John Murphy, chair of Veg NZ, reckons greenhouse vege producers face severe challenges due to changes in the ETS.

Murphy warns, "You'll see a $10 cucumber in no time".

Greenhouse growers will be affected by changes to industrial allocation, where government gives free emission units to businesses, keeping them competitive against countries who aren't facing crippling ETS costs.

There will be fewer free permits than before; some growers will pay an extra $200k this year, which VNZ warns could force them out of business.

Those locked into gas contracts who cannot switch to alternatives will be hit with higher ETS fees for using that gas.

As Murph rightly says, "it's a triumph of bureaucracy".

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